What Crosses My Mind

  • Anxious Mornings

    I woke today with my wall of anxiety awaiting me. It’s a feeling that overwhelms me, some days more than others. The feeling has been with me my entire life. I remember the first time I felt some comfort in my personality, was seeing a therapist around the age of 18. My therapist gave me…

  • A Restart of Stagework

    A few months ago I took on a new project. Since I retired from teaching I have felt a definite void with not working on a theater stage. It always seemed I would land something somewhere but I really wasn’t sure. I’ve been through a lot over the past few years, and the one common…

  • Three Days Before Christmas

    I’m sitting alone in my apartment thinking about the days ahead. I don’t want to sound like I am feeling sorry for myself. Actually, I am in a good state of mind, as opposed to the last few years. I recently thought about my niece who is currently going through a round of chemotherapy having…

  • She’s Having A Baby

    I am a happy man. In just a few short months I will be a grandfather. My daughter is about to have a child and I could not be happier. I’m scared too. I think that is a natural feeling to have for your daughter, your child, a parental instinct to care and protect. I…

  • On Being

    I posted a meme tonight about the essence of life, and what ought matter the most in our society, our world, our planet. The quote wasn’t my own. It appeared a scrawl on the side of a building like graffiti. It might have been photo-shopped but was effective. It spoke of how the planet doesn’t…

  • A Curious Outcome

    I found him crouched in a corner laying in a fetal position. The kids told me that is the way he is. Let him go, you don’t want to have him blow up on you. He does that when he gets angry, no one can talk him down. It’s just the way he is. I…

  • Why Shakespeare?

    Because acting is life. With every good playwright we find the realities we endure being played out on stage to help us understand. Without knowing the consequence, the moment needs to find reason, and if done properly, can teach all of us something. That is the beauty of theater. That is the marvel of Shakespeare.…

  • She Belonged On Stage

    At least those were her words when Becky returned to an audition after years of being away. I’ve changed her name and productions to protect her anonymity. I was first introduced to Becky in a production of Mary Poppins when she played a significant role. She was someone who came out of nowhere, they usually…

  • Directing Controversy

    When I first chose to direct A Raisin in the Sun I wanted to put the show on because I had the right students to make it happen. The demographics of the school supported an all black cast of actors, and I thought it a wonderful opportunity to put on a timely show. Lorraine Hansberry’s script…

  • Why Do I Need A Monologue?

    Years ago, when I was pursuing the stage, I was told by my mentor to always have a couple of monologues ready to go – preferably one comic and another tragic, perhaps contemporary or classical, even better always carry one of each in your back pocket and have them all memorized. Have a resource of…